Multiple-address envelop.



Patented Nov. |3,'I900.

2 Sheets-Sheet'2.

FROM THE COMMO LEAGUE.

M. N. FDRNEY. MULTIPLE ADDRESS ENVELOP.' (Application filed May 4, 1900.}

(No Model.)

drur I'm 3ff E H N O OM QM F0 C FFICEQ MATTI'IIAS N. FORNEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MU LTlPLE-ADDRESS ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 661,690, dated November 13, 1900;

Application filed May a, 1900. Serial No. 15,437. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHIAS N. FoRNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, Stateof New York, have in vented a certain new and useful Improvement in Multiple- Address Envelops; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact specification thereof.

The object of the invention is to facilitate the remailing of publications or documents of any kind by persons to Whom they are sent, thus multiplying the number of people who will receive them and increasing their circulation and influence.

I will describe the invention as applied to the circulation of papers for promoting or ad vooating a reform or other measure or cause about which it is intended to disseminateinformation by means of printed or written publications. Such publications maybe mailed in my improved envelop to a party to whose notice it may be thought desirable that such publications should be brought, and in order that it may be remailed to one or more parties a conspicuous notice is printed on the envelop requesting the recipient to Preserve the envelop and another notice to Read and remail its contents. To facilitate remailing, a number of spaces are provided on the face of the envelop for the names and add resses of parties to whom it may be successively sent, each space with a printed notice on it's margin similar to the following: 1st address here W, 2d address here W, 850. It being essential that postage should be paid each time the envelop is mailed, other spaces are provided on the face of the envelop suited to receive successive postage-stamps. Each of these has a notice printed on it similar to the following: Place forfirst stamp, Place for second stamp, due.

In advocating any cause or reform or in disseminating information with reference to any subject, party, or principle it is often desirable to have the names and addresses of as many people as possible who are or are likel 7 to be interested in the measures which at e advocated or in t-he'cause to be promoted. 'With this object in view means are provided forihe return of the envelop to the address from which it originated after it has been sent to a number of persons successively, as described. To effect the purpose of having it returned to the original sender, an ordinary return notice is printed on the envelop, with the addition if all the addresses on the enthere is one more space for stamps than for addresses.

In order that the purpose of the envelop and the method of remailing it may be readily and thoroughly understood, explicit direc tions explaining both may beprinted on its back. The envelop provided with a fastening which can readily be opened or closed.

I There may be only one paper, pamphlet, or other document or an aggregation of them sent in each envelop. In some cases a number of different publications may be sentin each envelop to be read by each person receiving it. would be requested by the notice on the envelop or by a notice inside, or by both these means, to remail all the documents contained in the-envelop. Under other circumstances it might be desirable to send a number of similar documents-such as circulars,&c.-in each envelop, with instructions that each recipient of it shall retain one or more copies and remail the remainder to some other per- In such instances each recipient son he may know of who will be likely to be influenced by them and who may be sufficiently interested therein to again forward the remainder in his turn. There may be other cases, as in the sale of merchandise, in which it will be expedient or desirable for the original sender to prepay all the postages for the successive remailings of the envelop. Should he undertake to do this by affixing stamps in each of the places provided for their reception, some or all of them would be liable to be canceled at too early a period in the series of remailings. To guard against this and provide facilities for the prepayment of all the post-ages by the original sender, I have provided protective flaps which cover each one of the stamps. These coverings are The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a front or face view of the firstdescribed form of envelop ready for mailing the first time and embodying a portion of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front or face view of the envelop shown in Fig. 1 ready to be mailed the second time. The remaining figuresare on a smaller scale and represent an envelop to be used when all the postages are prepaid at the time it is first mailed and having protective flaps for the postage-stamps to protect them from being canceled prematurely. Fig. 3 is a face View of this form of envelop ready to receive the first address and the postage-stamps, but with the protective flaps open. Fig. 4 shows a similar view of an envelop after the first address has been written on it, the postage-stamps have been attached to it, and the protective flaps, all excepting the first one, have been folded over the stamps and tucked into the slits provided to secure them. Fi 5 shows a similar view of the same envelop afterit has been mailed the first time, the first stamp has been canceled, the original address has been erased or lined out, a second address has been writ ten in the appropriate place, and the covering-flap over'the second stamp has been removed, and it is ready to mail the second time. Fig. 6 is a face view of an envelop having covering-flaps of a different form from those shown in the preceding three figures. Fig. 7 is a view of a portion of the back of an envelop, showing one form of a fastening for the main flap and the position of the directions for remailing. Fig. 8 shows the form of the blank sheet of paper from which the envelop and protective flaps shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are made, the lines on which it is subsequently folded being indicated'by dotted lines.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, A, B, O, D, and E are spaces arranged, respectively, adjacent, on which the propersuccession of addresses are to be written and on or adjoining each of which spaces instructions-to that effeet are plainly printed. Another series of spaces a, b, c, d, e, and f, each of a proper size for a postage-stamp, are arranged also on the front of the envelop and marked cor respondingly to receive and carry stamps, the first stamp-place a corresponding to the first address A, and so on.

In the use of the envelop the original sender writes one address in the space A, puts a proper postage-stamp on the stamp-space a, as shown in Fig. l, and mails the parcel.

It is important that the envelop shall be adapted to retain the contents for transportation in the mails and on reaching its first destination that it may be opened without destroying it, but, on the contrary, preserving it in the condition for reuse and remailing. Ordinary envelops with the fiaps. ungummed, or, if gummed, unwetted,will serve; but I employ such fastening means as are set forth in the expired patent to W. D. Smith, dated March 13, 1883, .No. 274,044, shown in Fig. 7, and will describe it as thus equipped, with the string permanently attached at one end 9 and an eyeleted fastening and button It for securing the other end of the string by winding it around this button and allowing its release and resecuring when required.

Such a fastening will endure many successive uses.

In order'to make the purpose of the envelop obvious to its recipients, the most prominent notice on it is Preserve this envelop. Then as it is intended that the same envelop should be remailed a number of times another prominent notice on it is Read and remail.

The'spaces A, B, O, D, and E are provided on the face of the envelop for different names and addresses of persons or parties to whom it may be successively sent. These spaces may be designated, preferably, by printed lines, as shown in the drawings; but other means, as different colors, water-marks in the paper, stamped lines or surfaces, &c., which would serve to indicate that the unoccupied spaces are to be reserved for different addresses, may be employed. Adjacent to these spaces are inserted the notices indicating where the successive names and addresses are to be written. To facilitate the prepayment of postage each time the envelop is mailed, the other spaces a, b, c, d, e, and fare provided to receive successive postage-stamps The spaces have suitable notices thereon indicating Where these stamps should be placed.

There is also a conspicuous reference on the face of the envelop to directions for rem-ailing on the back of the envelop or within it, or both. The latter are intended to be very full and specific, so that all persons may understand them. One form of such directions is as follows: The inclosed publications of the Commonweal League are sent to the person to whom this envelop will be mailed with the hope-that they will be read by the recipient and that he or she will be sufficiently interested therein and in the objects of the League to be disposed to cooperate with it and aid in extending the circulation of its publications by contributing a one cent stamp, readdressing this envelop to some other person, and then remailing it. To do this requires simply that the person receiving the envelop, who is willing to give such aid, should drawa pen through his or her address, then write the new one in the space provided next below the old one, affix the new postage-stamp in the place indicated for it, replace the publications in the envelop, fasten it with its string and button, and then remail it. The second and succeeding persons receiving it are requested to Read and remail in the same way, and when addresses have been written in all the five spaces provided for them and the envelop has been mailed that often the last person who has received it is requested to return it to the Commonweal League of New York. A Return Notice is provided on the envelop for that purpose, and no additional address will therefore be needed; but the return postage must be prepaid by the addition of a one-cent stamp in the sixth space provided. The publications thus returned to the League may in some cases be started on a new career of usefulness. The old envelop will also give the League the names and addresses of persons interested in its objects, to whom other publications may thereafter be sent.

On receiving one of these envelops a persons attention will first be attracted by the conspicuous notices to Read and remail and to Preserve this envelop, which of themselves might explain the purpose of the spaces for successive addresses and stamps; but to make this quite obvious it is still more definitely stated by other notices inscribed in these spaces or adjacent thereto, and if the receiver of the envelop has then any doubt about its purposes he or she is given a full explanation of it on the back. Naturally, then, a person interested in the contents of such-envelop 011 receiving one of them and getting a comprehension of its object will take out its contents and preserve the envelop for further use. After reading what it contains or giving it the attention which his or her interest in the subject to which it relates prompts it may not unreasonably be expected that the original contents will be replaced in the envelop and that it will be remailed to some other person likely to be interested therein or be influenced thereby. If-a number of copies of the same documents or publications are inclosed in the envelop, each restamps remaining on it. Thus it will be mailed successively from one person to another. When all the spaces provided for addresses are filled, if the last recipient complies with the return notice on the envelop he or she will remail it to the original sender, whose address is given in the return notice referred to.

One object in having the envelop finally remailed to the original sender is to be assured of the success of the enterprise; but another i mportant end, as has been explained, is attained in giving the person or persons from Whom it originated theaddresses, if they remain legible, of those who are likely to be interested in the subject to which the contents of the envelop relate or who may be influenced thereby, whereas otherwise it would be difficult and often impossible to obtain such addresses. The canceled names may also serve to introduce or commend to the later recipients the reform, measure, cause, or business to which the documents mailed may relate, and the fact that those whose names are on the envelop were interested in its contents will often secure the attention of others who receive it who without such approval would give no attention to what is sent them. 7

Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, represent the fuller development of my invention, the purpose of which is to provide a multiple-mailing envelop adapted for receiving a sufficient number of postage-stamps when it is first mailed to cover the postage for each successive mailing and which is provided with means for the protection of these stamps and prevent their cancellation before the payment of the postage which they represent is required. With these objectsin view spaces are provided, as in the envelop already described, for as many slampsas will be needed for the successive mailings of the envelop. Instead of requiring that one stamp shall be attached to the envelop by each recipient when he rem-ails it all the stamps are put on the envelopin their appropriate places by the first party who sends it out. To prevent the premature cancellation of more than one stamp at a time, they are each covered or protected by a strip or flap of paper or other material which can easily be removed and detached at the proper time. Such strips or flaps are shown by a, b, c, d, e, and f in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and S.

In the manufacture of these envelops the sheets of which they are made are cut or cipient can retain one and then redeposit the remainder in the envelop and refasten the ready to remail, the canceled addresses and stamped out of the form represented by Fig. 8. The protective flaps a b c, &c., for covering the stamps are formed on the upper edge of the sheet, as shown. They are cut s s s, &c., cut in the part of the sheet which forms the face of the envelop when it is folded,

as will be explained farther on.

To form the envelop after the sheet is cut, as shown in Fig. 8, the lower margin 9 h t'j is first folded over on the line 9 h, and the sheet is also folded on the line It Z, and the margin g h c'j is then pasted below the line 0 n n, &c. The slits ss 8 are then immediately below the protective flaps er I) f and in a position to receive their ends, as will presently be described. The part 19 is afterward folded on the line W. Z and. pasted to the back, and the loose main flap F is also folded back on the line 0 It, but is not pasted, but left free, so that it can be opened and closed at each remailing and the contents of the envelop may be inserted and removed each time it is sent and received. The flap of the envelop is provided with a string and button, as shown in Fig. 7. The face of the envelop then has the appearance shown by Fig. 3, the spaces for addresses and stampsand the directions for remailing, &c. having been printed on the sheet before it was folded. The stamps may then be attached in their appropriate places, and afterward the protective flaps. are folded down and their narrowed ends inserted in the slits 88 to hold the flaps in place. In Fig. lall the flaps are. so shown excepting the first one, a, which has not been folded over, and the stamp is shown underneath it.

In mailing the envelop the first time the address is written in the appropriate place, as shown in Fig. 4, and the protection-flap which covers the first stamp is torn off. It is then ready to mail. When it gets into the office, the postmaster cancels the first stamp which is exposed, but the others are protected by the flaps. When it is mailed the second time, the first address is erased and a new one written in the second space, as shown in Fig. 5, andthe end of the flap over the second stamp is pulled out of the slip, and it is torn off in the perforated line which exposes the stamp below it. When it reaches the post-office the second time, another stamp is paper perforated on the lines m and w '1), the

distance between the lines of perforation being equal to the height or Width of a postagestamp. These strips are pasted to the envelop above and below the lines of perforations and the stamps, the parts of the strips which cover the stamps being unpasted. Vertical slits are out between the lines of perforation whose distance apart is just equal to the width of a stamp.

At each successive mailing one of the strips which covers a stamp is torn off on the lines of perforation, the other operations being the same as described.

No protective strip is required for the first stamp; but it is thought best to provide one and to remove it, so that the fact that it has been removed will guide the succeeding mailer.

From Figs. 4, 5, and 6 it will be seen that directions are printed on each protective strip for its removal at the proper time.

Other modifications may be made Without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. I can provide a less number or possibly a larger number of properly-marked spaces for the addresses and the stamps. Their positions may be changed or they may be arranged in a different order; but I prefer that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the succession of stamps commencing at the right hand and extending along the top toward the left, because it is customary in canceling in the post-office to strike the stamp in the upper right-hand corner. The arrangement proposed agrees with this practice of cancellation and allows the operator to run his eye to the left until he finds the fresh one to be canceled. I alsoprefer the arrangement of the addresses, as shown, one under another, the =uppermost next to the several places for the stamps, because the successive cancelings of the stamps will be likely to more or less obscure this portion at the late stages in the progress of the envelop.

The return notice,which, being printed,wi1l occupy less space than the several others, may be arranged in the series lying directly under the last written; but I esteem it preferable to have it in another convenient point and allow the whole vertical depth not occupied by the stamps for the successive directions.

Further modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. The number of spaces foraddresses may be varied.

Parts of the invention may be used without front face of the envelop, and means for securing its contents while preserving the envelop, all substantially as herein described.

2. An envelop having a number of designated spaces for successive addresses; a corresponding number of designated spaces for postage-stamps,'all on the front face of the envelop; another space carrying instructions inscribed on the envelop for redirecting and remailing it and a readily attachable and detachable fastening for securing the contents within the envelop, substantially as herein described.

3. An envelop having a number of designated spaces for successive addresses, and a corresponding number of designated spaces for postage-stamps and covering-flaps adapted to serve for the protection of the stamps in the first portion of a series of successive mailings.

4. An envelop having a number of designated spaces for successive addresses, and a corresponding number of designated spaces for postage-stamps, covering-flaps for the stamps, and instructions inscribed on the envelop for redirecting and remailing it, sub stantially'as herein specified.

5. An envelop having a number of designated spaces for successive addresses, and a corresponding number of designated spaces for postage-stamps,and covering-flaps for the protection of the stamps and a readily attachable and detachable fastening for securing the contents Within the envelop, substantially as herein described.

6. An envelop having a number of designated spaces for successive addresses, a corresponding number of spaces for postagestamps and covering-flaps for the protection of the stamps, the whole formed of one sheet of paper, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in pres- 'ence of two Witnesses.

MATTHIAS N. FORNEY. Witnesses:

THOMAS DREW STETSON, J. B. CLAUTICE. 

